AMSTERDAM — She is not afraid of pirates. She has packed plenty of school books. And she is going to miss her family and her dog, Spot.
Fourteen-year-old Laura Dekker hopped onto her boat yesterday and sailed off from the Netherlands, hoping to become the youngest person to make a solo voyage around the world.
About 100 supporters waved as Laura left the southern Dutch harbor of Den Osse bound for Portugal, her first stop on the journey.
Last week, Laura won a legal battle when a court released her from the guardianship of Dutch child protection agencies. They had blocked her initial plan to depart at age 13 over fears for her safety and psychological health during the trip, which will probably take around a year.
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